Method of making delta4,6 steroid compounds from delta4 steroid compounds



METHOD OF MAKING A STEROID COMPOUNDS FROM A STEROID COMPOUNDS Franz Sondheimer and George Rosenkranz, Mexico City, Mexico, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Syntex S.A., Mexico City, Mexico, a corporation of Mexico No Drawing. Application June 25, 1953 Serial No. 364,184

Claims priority, application Mexico June 28, 1952 9 Claims. (Cl. 260-23955) P The present invention relates to a novel method for the preparation of cyclopentanophenanthrene derivatives.

More particularly, the present invention relates to the preparation of steroidal unsaturated ketone compounds by oxidation reactions with manganese dioxide. I I In the United States application of Sondheimer, Romo, Rosenkranz and Djerassi, Serial Number 344,246, filed March 23, 1953, there is disclosed the oxidation of steroidal a,;3 unsaturated alcohols to the corresponding ketones with manganese dioxide or Ramey nickel in the presence of a hydrogen acceptor. The aforementioned application also discloses the selective oxidation of a, 18 unsaturated alcohols leaving other alcohol groups generally intact, and especially the oxidation of A -3-hydroxy compounds to the corresponding A -3-keto compounds.

In United States Patents Numbers 2,311,102 to Wettstein and 2,332,815 to Ruzicka, there are disclosed methods for the production of steroidal A -3-ke'tones. The methods there described are relatively complicated and the desired compounds are produced in relatively low yields. Further, the methods there described are not altogether satisfactory where' the steroidal compound possesses the characteristic side chain of the cortical hormones.

In accordance with the present invention the surprising discovery has been made, that manganese dioxide treatment of figy-unsaturated alcohols produces doubly unsaturated ketones having double bonds at the up and ,6 positions.

Further, in accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that A -3-ketone steroidal compounds may be produced in good yield from A -3-hydroxy compounds and that A -3-ketones can also be prepared from A -3-hydroxy compounds or from A -3- ketones by reacting these compounds with manganese dioxide under reflux conditions.

It has further been discovered in accordance with the present invention that steroidal sm-unsaturated u',6-dihydr'oxy compounds, more specifically steroidal A -3,6-diols when reacted with manganese dioxide at approximately room temperatures produced the corresponding steroidal fin-unsaturated a-hydroxy fi-keto compounds, specifically A -6-ol-3-ketones. On the other hand," reaction with manganese dioxide under hot-conditions, i.e. reflux, produces from the same compounds the a,'y-diketones, for

example, A -3,6-diketones. I I Further, it has been discovered inaccordance'with the presentjinvention that when manganese dioxide is reacted with steroidal A -7-ol compounds, these compounds are converted to the correspondingsteroidal A 7-ketones and when A -20-ol steroidal compounds are reacted with manganese dioxide the corresponding A -20-ketones are produced. In generaL-it may be stated that these various reactions of manganese dioxide upon allylic alcohols or upon pm-unsaturated alcohols can be carried out in the presence of saturated alcohol'groups whichremain-substantially unaffected by the reagent.

2,900,382 latented Aug. 18, 1959 A portion of the process of the present invention may be illustrated by the following equation:

Y Y R: x R: Oxidation i M Di anganese E0 oxide (room 0- temperature) on H In the above equation X'and Y may represent known substituents in positions 0-11 and 0-12- of ring 0 of the s-teriod molecule, i.e. X may be CH H .11 of o v r 0H orr- C= O or i I \O aeyl Y may be CH H in 0' on on or C=O. If R, is hydrogen then R represents know 0-17 side chains such as =0, I V

- carbalkoxy-alkyl, acetyl, alkoxy-alkyl, acyloxy-acetyl and acyloxy-acetyl together with a 17a-hydroxy group. R and R together may also represent the sapogenin side chains:

In practicing the" process above set forth .the steroidal A -3,6-diol such as M-cholesten-Bflfifi-diol is dissolved in a suitable organic solvent such as chloroform, manganese dioxide added and the mixture agitated' atroom temperature for a prolonged period, such as one day. Purification gave a steroidal A -6o1-3-ketone product such as A- cholesten-6p-ol-3-one.

" The same compounds treated under reflux or with heatingto'substantially reflux temperatures gave the steroidal A -3,6-diketones as a product in accordance with the following equation:

' Qxldationi" Manganese 1. 11 1 2 1 8 'lri the above'equation X, Y, R and R represent the Y samesubstituent groups as heretofore set forth.

The oxidation of steroidal A -7-ol compounds including the selective oxidation of A -3,7-diols is illustrated by the following equation: I g

I Y Y x X R.

Oxidation l Manganese O Dioxide R0 In the above equation X, Y, R and R represent the 15 same groups as heretofore set forth and R' -represents hydrogen or-an acylgroupsuch as the residue of ,a :lower fattyacid or benz'oid acid. it 1 I 4 The production of steroidal MJ-S-keto compQ-l dsfrom the corresponding steoidal A -3-ol compounds, or steroidal 2 A -3-ol or steroidal A -3-one compounds by treatment with manganese dioxide preferably ina suitable organic solvent under reflux conditions is illustrated by the follow ing equation:

Om a

'Manganese F Dioxide (heat) 'In the above equation.X, Y,.R and 'it represent the same groups asheretofore. a i V The oxidation of a steroidal A -20.-hydroxy.compound to a 20-keto compound is illustratedlby the following I equation:

Oxidation anganese R0 Dioxide R0 In the above equation R represents either an'acyl group or hydrogen as heretofore set-forth and the oxidation especially in the absence of heatingmay' beconsidered a selective oxidation of an 0413 unsaturated hydroxy group.

, sorption maximum at 238 m (log E 4.26).

i The following specific examples serve to illustrate but are not intended to limit the present invention:

Example I 20 g. of manganese dioxide were added to a solution of 1 g. of A -cholesten-3fl,6B-diol in 600 cc. of chloroform and the mixture was shaken at room temperature during 24 hours. The solution was filtered and evaporated to dryness. Crystallization of the residue from chloroform-acetone yielded 730 mg. of A -cholesten-6flol-3-one with amelting point of 193 195 C., [ul +33 (chloroform). The compound has an ultraviolet ab- The infrared spectrum confirms the presence of a hydroxy group as well as a A -3-keto group.

Example If 20 g. of manganese dioxide were added to a solution of 1 g. of A -cholester1-3/8,6fl-dio1 in 600 cc. of chloroform and the mixture was refluxed under. stirring for six hours; The solutionwas filtered and evaporated to dryness and the residue was chromatographed in a column with 50 g. of alumina previously washed. The chroma tographic fractions with similar melting pointswere combined and yielded 460 mg. of A -cholesten-3,6-dione, which after crystallization from methanol had a melting point of 122l24 C. [mad -29 (chloroform); max. 250 mp. (log E 4.17). In contrast with the product obtained in accordance with Example I, this compound did not show in the infrared the characteristic band of free hydroxy groups.

Y Example Ill 5 g. of" manganese dioxide were added to a solution of 500 mg. of A -22-lSOSPiI'OSt6H-3fl,7u-di0l 3-m0noacetate in 50 ccof benzene and the mixture was shaken for 24- hours at room temperature. The solution was filtered and evaporated to-dryness and the residue was crystallized from methanol giving 240 mg. of A -22-isospirosten -3p- .ol- 7-one acetate (7-keto-diosgenin acetate) Witha melting-point of 1989-200 C., [c -1 -l53 (chloroform); hmax; 236'-m t,. (log E422). The infrared spectrum showeditherpresence of acetate and unsaturatedtketo groups. Theidentity of'theproduct was establishedabiv comparison with an authentic sample of 7-keto-diosgenin; there was no depression in the mixed melting point.

Example 1V A solution of 500 mg. of A -a1lopregnen-3fl,20fl-diol in 50 cc. of benzene was mixed with5 g. of manganese dioxide and then-shaken at room temperature for 24 hours. The solution was filtered and evaporated to dryness. The crude product exhibited an ultraviolet absorption maximum at 236 my. (log E 3.7) thus indicating a 50% conversion to the A -20-ketone, i.e. A -allopregnen-313-ol-20-one.

Example V 15 g. of manganese dioxide were added to a solution of 1.5 g. of A -22-isospirosten-3p-ol in 150 cc. of benzene and the mixture was refluxed with stirring for eight hours. The solution was filtered and evaporated to dryness. Chromatographic purification of the product in a column with washed alumina yielded 460 mg. of A -22-isospirostadien-3-one with a melting point of 204-210 C., A max. 284 mp (log E 4.54), identical with an authentic sample. A considerable amount of starting material was recovered from the mother liquors.

Example VI Example VII 15 g. of manganese dioxide were added to a solution of 1.5 g. of dehydroepiendrosterone in 150 cc. of benzene and the mixture was refluxed for eight hours with stirring. The yield of A -androstadien-3,7-dione was 570 mg, with a melting point of 170-17 3 C. The analytical sample crystallized from ether-acetone and had a melting point of 172173 C., [a] +l34 (chloroform); A max. 282 m (log E 4.52), identical to an authentic sample. As in previous cases, a good part of the starting material was recovered.

Example VIII Following the procedure described in Example VII, 1.5 g. of A -pregnen-3B-ol-20-one yielded 500 mg. of A -pregnadien-3,20-dione. After crystallization from acetone, the analytical sample had a melting point of 145146 C., [eth l-179 (chloroform); A max. 284 my (log E 4.55), identical to an authentic sample.

Example 1X By the method described in Example VII, 1.5 g. of A 2l-acetoxy pregnen-3B-ol-20-one aflorded 316 mg. of M' -2l-acetoxypregnadien-3,ZO-dione (G-dehydro-desoxycorticosterone acetate). After crystallization from acetone its analytical sample had a melting point of 114- 115 C., [Ct] +170 (chloroform); A max. 284 mp (log E 4.54).

Example X 15 g. of manganese dioxide were added to a solution of 1.5 g. of A -androsten-3B,17B-diol in 150 cc. of benzene and the mixture was refluxed for eight hours under continuous stirring. Chromatographic purification of the product over alumina yielded:

(a) 160 mg. of A -androstadien-3,l7-dione with a melting point of 170-173 C., A max. 284 m (log E 4.52), identical to an authentic sample.

(b) 230 mg. of A -androstadien-l7fi-ol-3-one (6-dehydrotestosterone), whose analytical sample crystallized from actone, melting point 208211 C., lal +73 (chloroform); A max. 284 m (log E 4.55).

(c) Unaltered starting material.

1 Example XI a 1.5 g. of A -pregnen-3fl,2O;8-diol' were treated by th method described in Example VII and yielded 520 mg. of A -pregnadien-2Ofl-ol-3-one, whose analytical sample was prepared by crystallization from chloroform-acetone. It had a melting point of 197 199 C., [a];;-!- 15 (chloroform); A max. 284 mp (log E 4.52).

Example XII 1.5 g. of A -pregnadien-3 3,20 S-dio1 was treated by the method described in Example VII and yielded 400 mg. of A -pregnatrien-3,20-dione. Its analytical sample crystallized from chloroform-acetone and had a melting point of 253256 C., [a] +144 (chloroform); A max. 240 ma log E 4.21) and 284 m (log E 4.53).

Example XIII 15 g. of manganese dioxide were added to a solution of 1.5 g. of A -22isospirosten-3-one (diosgenone) in cc. of benzene and the mixture was refluxed for six hours with stirring. After filtering and evaporating todryness a substance was obtained with A max. 242 m (log E 3.92) and 284 m (log E 4.08) which is the characteristic spectrum of a mixture of starting material and 43 -22- isospirostadien-3-one. The separation of the components of the mixture was achieved after repeated chromato graphic purifications.

We claim:

1. A process for the production of A -cholestadien- 3-one comprising oxidizing cholesterol with manganese dioxide by heating in an organic solvent under reflux conditions.

2. A process for the production of A -androstadien- 3-one comprising oxidizing dehydroepiandrosterone with manganese dioxide by heating in an organic solvent under reflux conditions.

3. A process for the production of A -p1'egnadien- 3,20-dione comprising oxidizing A -pregnen-3fi-ol-20-one with manganese dioxide by heating in an organic solvent under reflux conditions.

4. A process for the production of A -21-acetoxypregnadien-3,20-dione comprising oxidizing A -21- acetoxypregnan-3fi-ol-20-one with manganese dioxide by heating in an organic solvent under reflux conditions.

5. A process for the production of A -androstadien- 17fi-ol-3-one comprising oxidizing A -androsten-3fl,17fldiol with manganese dioxide by heating in an organic solvent under reflux conditions.

6. A process for the production of A -pregnatrien- 3,20-dione comprising oxidizing A -pregnen-3fi,20fl-diol with manganese dioxide by heating in an organic solvent under reflux conditions.

7. A process for the production of A -22-isospirostadien-S-one comprising oxidizing A -22-isospirosten-3-ol with manganese dioxide by heating in an organic solvent under reflux conditions.

8. A process for the production of A -22-isospirostaunder reflux conditions. 9. A process for the production of a steroidal 1 pound selected from the class consisting of a A -3-ket0 cholestadiene, a A -3 keto pregnadiene, a A -3-ket0- androstadiene and a A 3 keto spirostadiene which comprises heating with manganese dioxide in an organic solvent and under reflux conditions a corresponding compound selected from the class consisting of a A3-keto cholestene, a A -3-hydroxy cholestene, a A -3-hydroxy 8 eiaohestene, .a A -3-keto pregnene, a A -3ghydroxy pregnene, a; d 3 hydr'oxy pregnene, -a A -3 -keto androstenejn A -3 hydroiiy androstene, a A -3-hydroxy androstene, a A -3-keto spirostene, a A -3-hydroxy spirostene and a 5 A 3-hydrqxy spirostene. i

No references cited. 

9. A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A STEROIDAL COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF A $4,6-3-KETO CHOLESTADIENE, A $4,6-3-KETO PREGNADIENE, A $J, 6-3-KETO ANDROSTADIENE AND A $4,6-3-KETO SPIROSTADIENE WHICH COMPRISES HEATING WITH MANGANESE DIOXIDE IN AN ORGANIC SOLVENT AND UNDER REFLUX CONDITIONS A CORRESPONDING COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF A $4-3-KETO CHOLESTENE, A $4-3-KETO CHOLESTENE OF A $5-3-HYDROXY CHOLESTENE, A $4-3-KETO PREGNENE, A $4-3-HYDROXY PREGNENE, A $5-3-HYDROXY PREGNENE, A $4-3-DETO ANDROSTENE, A $4-3-HYDROXY ANDROSTENE, A $5-3-HYDROXY ANDROSTENE, A $4-3-KETO SPIROSTENE, A $4-3-HYDROXY SPIROSTENE AND A $5-3-HYDROXY SPIROSTENE. 